HELP!! Should I drop second major??

[wldhokie]

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Alright y'all, I really need some good advice! I am in my junior year double majoring in wildlife sciences and biology. I also just started EMT classes and running with an EMS organization this semester and I am definitely in over my head. As of right now I have pretty much all b's and maybe an a, so my grades are definitely suffering. It looks as though I'll have to take 18 to 21 credits a semester to finish up my degree since I spent last semester studying abroad and not many credits transferred. I'm worried that taking that many credits next semester will really cut into the time I need for MCAT preparation.
I went into college wanting to pursue a career in wildlife sciences, and now that that is definitely not an option, should I drop the major so I can spend more time making better grades in the bio degree? Also, do you think med school admissions will frown upon dropping a major in your junior year? For financial reasons, staying an extra year isn't an option for me. So, should I stick with the double major or drop it and get better grades? Also, if I was to drop wildlife sciences, I would have room in my schedule to take some humanities/ethics courses. Oh another thing is that I lose $3000 in scholarships if i drop the wildlife science. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!! Thanks!🙂

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by wldhokie
Alright y'all, I really need some good advice! I am in my junior year double majoring in wildlife sciences and biology. I also just started EMT classes and running with an EMS organization this semester and I am definitely in over my head. As of right now I have pretty much all b's and maybe an a, so my grades are definitely suffering. It looks as though I'll have to take 18 to 21 credits a semester to finish up my degree since I spent last semester studying abroad and not many credits transferred. I'm worried that taking that many credits next semester will really cut into the time I need for MCAT preparation.
I went into college wanting to pursue a career in wildlife sciences, and now that that is definitely not an option, should I drop the major so I can spend more time making better grades in the bio degree? Also, do you think med school admissions will frown upon dropping a major in your junior year? For financial reasons, staying an extra year isn't an option for me. So, should I stick with the double major or drop it and get better grades? Also, if I was to drop wildlife sciences, I would have room in my schedule to take some humanities/ethics courses. Oh another thing is that I lose $3000 in scholarships if i drop the wildlife science. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!! Thanks!🙂

I dont know what to say except med schools wont care if you drop the second major, they wont even know as long as you dont list it on AMCAS-- which you definitely wouldnt have to.

Also if staying an extra year is much more costly than the 3000$ in scholarships, then just based on pure economics I would drop wildlife sciences as well.

So if youre in over your head, dont want to spend an extra year, and arent interested in it as much anymore, just drop the 2nd major. Med schools wont/dont need to know.

 

[Nor2themax]

I'd drop the biology degree and keep your scholarships 🙂 There are so many BIO major applying to medical school that you would be a more interesting candidate with a degree in WL Science. I'm a humanities major and I've gotten 4 interviews so far with 12 schools still pending.

 

[jlee9531]

yeah id consider what nora is saying...

i mean as a jr im sure you have completed most if not all of the medschool reqs so dropping bio probably would be too much of a loss.

 

[raDiOnut]

Hey Wldhokie,

You're in almost the same boat I was in not long ago. I'm a junior right now, majoring in Biology. Last fall, I was finishing my Spanish minor, working part-time with work study and also taking my EMT class. At the time, I was considering Spanish as my second major.

I was taking 15 cr, (inorganic, a 300 level spanish course, calc, and a few others) and the EMT class really cut into my free time. From the time I started EMT class to when I finished, my gpa dropped from 3.86 to a 3.7....not dreadful, but not the best. I personally decided that I would take a slight drop in gpa just to have the EMS experience. For me, I thought it was worth it.

This fall, I am now working full-time (36-54hrs/wk) as an EMT, but with a relatively small company so that I generally have time to do hw while on duty. It works, but that combined with a major research project, work-study in psychology and 17cr in undergrad makes life extraordinarily hectic and quite stressful.

My recommendations: pick one major, do it. With EMS work, you're probably going to have a little more trouble juggling 2 majors and work. Get through your EMT class, have fun as an EMT, but BE CAREFUL not to overdo the hours. As a new EMT, I found it really easy to work way too many hours (70+/wk) and let my grades drop....

just my thoughts as an EMT and junior in pre-med,

raDiOnut

 

[wldhokie]

Thanks so much for all the advice y'all!! Well after your input and some advice from friends and family, I've decided to drop a major... The question is now, which one?? It seems like there are pros and cons on each side. I enjoy bio more and think it would help me more in the long run since I'm definitely pursuing a career in medicine, even if I don't get into med school. On the other hand, there's the wildlife scholarship and it is a "more unique" major, but then again I don't enjoy the classes nearly as much now that I don't have an interest in it as a career. Mmmm, decisions, decisions.. Any more advice would be appreciated, y'all are really helpful!! Oh and thanks so much, radionut, the emt info was really helpful. I did have a problem in the beginning with running calls anywhere from 20-80 hours a week. I'm trying to cut down now and things are going a lot better. Thanks so much you guys, keep the advice coming!🙂

 

[Neuronix]

Originally posted by wldhokie
think it would help me more in the long run since I'm definitely pursuing a career in medicine, even if I don't get into med school.

Biology probably won't help you in the long run unless you persue some sort of research in medical school and/or your career. For the first six months you may get SOME review of what you learned in ugrad (how much of it will you remember anyways?), but past that it will all be new material. It's the same with your EMT. How much of your biology class do you use on patients? You could probably stretch some information to make connections, but next to nothing applies directly and the bulk of the information won't apply at all.

You did say you liked bio better... I always say to do what you like best so you will shine at it. Yes, the cookie cutter pre-med is a bio major, and I always tell people to consider other things than bio, but if that's really what you want to do than you should do it. I just recommend that you then get involved with biology more than just as a major to set yourself apart. Personally, that's the kind of thing I like to see from bio majors as a student interviewer.

Gleevec is right. Nobody will know that you dropped the second major. You could probably even at this point get a minor in one or the other and you could easily explain those courses that way.

Good luck!

 

[mamitch4]

wldhokie,
I'd look at what classes you want to take and see what type of degree you can most easily come out with. Doing well in the classes you do take is probably the most important thing, and that will be easier if you like the classes. Taking quality non-science classes can also be to your benefit. I'm guessing from your name that you go to VT. If so, you have excellant "pre-med," non-science classes to choose from, for instance: History of Medicine, Biomedical Ethics, Medical Geography, etc. Also, if you haven't already done so you should talk to the pre-med advisor. He is a great resource and could help guild you in your decisions. Good luck from a fellow Hokie!